Mental Health Court
Mental Health Court is a diversion program to target mental health treatment for individuals accused of a certain category of offenses and whose mental health condition was a contributing factor to their case. Through a multidisciplinary approach, participants are supported with case management services that provide support in medical and psychiatric appointments and medication management, housing, vocational.educational assistance, peer support, and counseling.
Penal Code 1001.36The Goals of Mental Health Court are to:
identify justice impacted clients with qualifying mental health conditions through an accurate diagnosis and the creation of an appropriate treatment plan in order to prevent future arrests, incarceration, convictions, mental health relapses and psychiatric hospitalizations and improve public safety;
avoid criminal convictions for those with mental health conditions that creates barriers to accessing services, housing, treatment, and collateral consequences related to employment;
create a supportive space for a vulnerable population that has long been criminalized for their mental health condition without treatment; and
dismissal of case(s) upon a showing of long-term plan and satisfactory participation throughout diversion.
